Fight Gear
A short kit list for anyone training MMA, Muay Thai or jiu-jitsu. Three picks per category, not a catalogue.
We are a fight calendar, not a shop. These are the things you actually need, chosen because they last, not because they pay best. If a category has no honest pick, it is not here.
MMA Gloves
Four to six ounces, open palm. You want enough padding to spar without wrecking your partner, and a wrist that stays put when you grip.
FairtexFGV17 MMA Training Gloves
around $86Start hereThe default gym glove. Split knuckle padding, enough wrist support to grapple in, and a shape that has barely changed in a decade because it works.
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FairtexFGV18 'Super Sparring' MMA Gloves
around $100More padding than the FGV17, which is what you want if your gym spars hard. Bulkier on the grip.
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Cleto Reyes'Black Mamba' MMA Training Gloves
around $140A boxer's brand making an MMA glove: thin, fast, and less forgiving. Buy it for striking-heavy training, not your first pair.
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Boxing and Muay Thai Gloves
Sixteen ounces for sparring, twelve for bags. Buy one good pair rather than two cheap ones, and let them dry between sessions.
TWINS SpecialBGVL-3 Muay Thai Gloves
around $105Start hereThe most-bought Muay Thai glove in the world for a reason. Boxy, well padded, and hard to wear out.
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FairtexBGV1 Muay Thai Gloves
around $140Slightly softer and rounder than the TWINS. Better if you catch a lot of kicks on the gloves.
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FairtexBGV9 Mexican Style 'Heavy Hitter'
around $150Mexican-style: dense padding, tighter fit, aimed at people who hit the bag hard. Not a sparring glove.
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Shin Guards
The piece beginners skip and regret. Leather lasts longer than synthetic, and a guard that slides mid-round is worse than none.
FairtexSP3 Muay Thai Shin Guards
around $91Start hereThe shin guard most gyms hand you. Leather, well shaped, and it stays where you put it.
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FairtexSP5 Muay Thai Shin Guards
around $106The SP3 with a wider instep and more foam. Worth it if you check kicks a lot.
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FairtexSP6 MMA Style Shin Guards
around $90Cut shorter for MMA, so it does not fight your knee when you shoot. Less coverage than the SP5.
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Hand Wraps
The cheapest insurance in the sport. Buy several pairs so a wet one never stops you training.
FairtexHW2 Elastic Cotton Hand Wraps
around $20Start hereElastic cotton, 180 inches, the length that actually wraps a full hand. Buy three pairs.
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TWINS SpecialElastic Cotton Hand Wraps (180in)
around $20Interchangeable with the Fairtex at the same price. Pick on colour.
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Headgear
For sparring, not for competition. Open face gives you vision, full face protects the nose. Neither prevents a concussion.
FairtexHG10 Super Sparring Headgear
around $126Start hereOpen face, good vision, thick cheeks. The sensible sparring choice.
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FairtexHG14 Full Face Headgear
around $146Full face bar. Protects the nose, costs you peripheral vision. Useful if you are coming back from a break.
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Rash Guards
Mat burn and other people's skin. Long sleeve if you grapple often, and check your gym's rules before buying a loud one.
HayabusaFusion Long Sleeve Rash Guard
around $50Start hereLong sleeve, holds its shape after a hundred washes, and cheap enough to own two.
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HayabusaGeo Long Sleeve Rash Guard
around $65The same build with a heavier print. Buy it if you like the look.
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BJJ Gi
Lighter weaves are cooler and dry faster; heavier ones last longer and are harder to grip. Check IBJJF compliance if you plan to compete.
HayabusaUltra-Light BJJ Gi (IBJJF compliant)
around $119Start hereIBJJF compliant and genuinely light, which matters in summer. A good first gi.
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HayabusaEssential Gold Weave BJJ Gi
around $139Heavier, stiffer, harder for an opponent to grip. It will outlast the ultra-light.
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How these are chosen
Gear that gyms buy in bulk and replace rarely: Fairtex, TWINS and Hayabusa turn up in real fight camps because the stitching survives a year of pad work. We favour the mid-priced version over the flagship, because the extra fifty dollars usually buys a colourway rather than a longer life. Prices are approximate and were checked in August 2026.
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